Not an Armed Success Story, But....

This is a discussion on Not an Armed Success Story, But.... within the Off Topic & Humor Discussion forums, part of the The Back Porch category; This graphically points out why an armed society is a protected society!
This is a tragedy that makes you wonder what would have happened if ...

A quiet Connecticut community woke up on Tuesday to more details behind a home invasion that ended with a prominent doctor injured, his wife and two daughters killed and their house up in flames.

Joshua Komisarjevsky, 26, of Cheshire and Steve Hayes, 44, of Winsted, were charged with assault, sexual assault, kidnapping, burglary, robbery and arson. Bail was set at $15 million each, and state police have said that additional charges are likely.

The suspects, both parolees with long rap sheets, were caught Monday in the family's SUV as they fled the burning home, which they apparently had torched to cover their tracks, authorities said.

Endocrinologist Dr. William Petit Jr., 50, was the sole survivor.

"Right now it's so awful and so hard even to take in the horror of it," said M. Burch Tracy Ford, head of Miss Porter's School in Farmington, from where Hayley Petit recently graduated during her recovery from a collapsed lung.

The high school senior and three-sport athlete left her sick bed last month long enough to attend commencement before returning to the hospital.

"She was not going to let her class down," Ford said.

Ford and so many others struggled Monday after learning that 17-year-old Hayley, her mother, Jennifer Hawke-Petit, and younger sister, Michaela, were killed in a violent home invasion after the family had been held hostage for hours.

A court bail commissioner said Hayes and Komisarjevky each have rap sheets with more than 20 prior burglaries, and both were out of prison on parole.

The two men did not enter pleas, and answered only "yes" when asked if they understood their rights. Both were represented by public defenders.

Komisarjevsky was sentenced to three years in prison in 2002 and six years of special parole after pleading guilty to 11 counts of second-degree burglary, the Hartford Courant reported.

Authorities said he would use military night-vision goggles during break-ins to steal electronic items while his victims were sleeping and that he claimed he did so to support a drug habit, prosecutor Ronald Dearstyne said at the time.

He added that Komisarjevsky, armed with a military backpack containing items including a knife for ripping window screens, began robbing homes when he was 14, the Courant reported.

Hayes has a 25-year history of burglary and larceny.

Bank employees contacted police when one of the suspects accompanied a female hostage, who was not identified, to make a withdrawal around 9:30 a.m. Monday. Police drove to the Petit home in this quiet suburb.

Dr. Petit, though severely injured, managed to tell police what happened. His wife and two daughters were found dead in the home, said a law enforcement official with firsthand knowledge of the investigation.

Cheshire, an upper-middle class neighborhood of 29,000 and colonial-style homes, is just east of Waterbury and about 15 miles north of New Haven.

"In Cheshire we're not used to this type of event," town Police Chief Michael Cruess said. "It's a very unfortunate, tragic event that's probably going to reach right down to the core of the community."

Hayley Petit received an early acceptance to Dartmouth, her father's alma mater. A tireless fundraiser for multiple sclerosis, captain of the basketball and crew teams and role model for younger students, Hayley Petit came from a family where helping people just came naturally.

"She was such a good, good person," Ford said. "The younger kids just worshipped the ground she walked on."

Petit, the president of the Hartford County Medical Association, is a noted specialist in diabetes and endocrinology and the medical director of the Joslin Diabetes Center Affiliate at The Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain.

"It is a shocking day for everyone. It's just beyond anyone's understanding," said Larry Tanner, president and chief executive officer of the hospital.

Petit's wife, Jennifer Hawke-Petit, 48, a nurse, was co-director of the health center at Cheshire Academy, a private boarding school.

"It's just a very difficult day here," said Philip Moore, director of communications for the school. "She was very good at educating kids about good health, not just taking care of them when they are not feeling well."

The Rev. Ronald A. Rising, a neighbor, said he had known the family for more than 10 years.

"They're just a lovely family," he said. "It's just awful to think it would happen to a family like that in this community. You don't think about those things happening."

While this is still "Breaking News" story, I feel it graphically points out a difference in "Mindset" as compared with those of us who choose to take responsibility for our own safety, even in our own homes! The FoxNewsChannel televised report stated the women were shot and at least one was sexually assaulted!

The media and police are proud that the bad guys were caught so quickly, but look at what was left in the wake of these guy's rampage!

Its shere tragedy aspect has to (surely) point out the need for an option for a homeowner re self defence. Whether handgun, shottie - whatever - some means at least to be able to level the playing field.

I share Mike's thoughts - how can this guy carry on - his own life may be intact but all else has gone. As so often a senseless event.

I saw this and I got sick. I carry all the time in the house. Glock 23 or Glock 22 IWB with a spare mag in the offside. I have been bugging my wifey to let me make the breakfast nook shelf a little thicker, well somewhat thicker, to discreetly hold a rem 870 w/ side saddle. So far, she has fought me tooth and nail on this.

As an aside, we had a storm in our area and it knocked out my alarm system. I had a new alarm system put in. The owner was big on monitoring. I was big on a very loud immediate wailing alarm to wake me up, and was non plussed with the monitoring.

He was confused with my desires because it did not track with most of his other customers. I said that an immediate loud siren would wake me up and give me the few seconds to do what I had to do. After that, there would be enough commotion and loud noises that LEO would definitely be called. And if my family wasn't home, well, homeowners insurance would handle the loss. I was concerned with the safety of my wife, child and me. Not my possessions.

I got the loud initial alarm (I insisted on it). But the wifey got the monitoring. Can anyone say yes dear? No long protracted arguments for me. And I am still working on an update to the breakfast nook.

sojourner... kind of reminds me of the ADT commercial where the husband backs out of the driveway to go to work as the home invader out front bends over to tie his shoe. Then as the husband drives off the BG puts his hoody over his head and kicks in the front door tripping the alarm.

Now here's the "screwy" part... The wife at the kitchen sink who hears the door kick in and alarm goes off... Instead of going for a gun... she runs to answer the phone because the alarm company is wanting to know if anything is wrong!

People see this stupid commercial... maybe even the good doctor in the story I posted above and Actually Believe They Are Safe!

That is just incredulous to me!

+1 on your warning siren on your alarm system. I am somewhat dismayed that the alarm installer tried to talk you out of it.

Stay Safe! Remember, when seconds count, the police are still minutes away! I line I keep stealing from one of our members but it is sooo true!

Bark'n - I always point out that commercial to my wife. To try to get her to carry or at least have a gunsafe close at hand on the 1st floor.

She says, yeah you'd just shoot him. I say that I would protect the family, whatever was necessary. Then I ask her what she would do and how quickly she would be able to access her glock. Chirp, chirp. ...

I'm still working on it.

Regards to being dismayed, it is ironic. The place that put in my alarm runs an ad that states "a gun can't call the police.". The owner came to my house to do the sale Schtick. I casually mentioned to him that the alarm is primarily to alarm me so I can take actions ( never explicitly mentioned arming myself to him). Secondarily, to notify police. He got what I was saying and then sold me what met my requirements.

I like that line you keep sharing. My goal is to keep my family alive and safe until the time the police can assist me.